Travelling from Quartzsite to Parker AZ

We stayed just outside of Quartzsite for a total of 10 days but due to trailer maintenance (dumping and water which we did at Quartzsite) we left Monday and traveled to BLM land east of Parker. The weather has been very warm with just a bit of wind. We have been on the road now for 2 months. If not for the conveniences of home – TV and a comfortable trailer – we would have headed for home by now.

Zack has been in a digging frenzy. He saw a lizard when we were at Quartzsite and has been hunting ever since. Yesterday, as soon as we got to our new spot outside of Parker, he dug till he was exhausted and we wanted to go for a walk, so we left him and Molly in the trailer. Sound travels quite far here and we could hear him barking the whole time we were walking. We were only gone for 15 minutes and when we opened the door to the trailer, Zack had thrown up in 4 different spots. He suffers from separation anxiety and didn’t like being left behind. We were not sure if he ever had actually caught a lizard or not, but he hasn’t been up to snuff ever since being left in the trailer. He doesn’t want to eat much and threw up again last evening. Will keep an eye on him to make sure he is okay.

Raymond had read all of the books he bought with him, so we had to go to the flea market at Quartzsite and get more paperbacks. I am drawing every day and so far have filled one sketch book with all sorts of stuff. Oh, the joy of being retired!

Late

February 12, 2008

We spent a week west of Yuma at Winterhaven and left Monday morning travelling west and north past the Salton Sea. We took a photo looking west at 308 feet below sea level. Across the water there was snow in the mountains.
We are dry camping just outside the south entrance to Joshua Tree Park in California. The weather has been beautiful hitting 28°C and we have been forced to seek the shade. Tomorrow we are going to drive through the Park and will go grocery shopping in Palm Springs on our way back

A late posting

Painted Rock

We arrived at Painted Rock on Saturday, Feb 2/08. We decided to stay at the campground for 2 nights. Raymond, Zack and I walked from the trailer to desposit our money ($8 a night) in the marked box. A man on a quad stopped and very rudely told us that all dogs are to be on a leash ALL OF THE TIME. We were not sure if he was the camp host or not but he was very nasty. I was carrying the leash and he very rudely asked me what good it was in my hand when it was supposed to be on the dog. I put the leash on Zack. I don't mind being reprimanded about the rules when asked politely, but he was very rude. We had a run in with him again when we went to deposit our garbage in the bin. He yelled at Raymond that he was messing up his road and he expected the gravel to be smoothed out. As we had paid for 2 nights we stayed for 2 nights. But we will never come to this campground again.

Dogs were not permitted anywhere near the painted rocks, so Raymond waited while I walked the path and took some photos which are above. Not sure if the markings on the rocks were authentic or not.

February 4, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAYMOND!!!

I sang "the birthday song" to Raymond this morning - and that is all the gifts he got! We left Painted Rock at noon, drove back to Gila Bend and parked in a truck stop across the road from the Shell station we had stayed at last Friday night. Really good internet connection even if we are across the road. Tonight we are going to the Cafe Charo for supper.

Organ Pipe

Gila Bend AZ

We travelled to a BLM campground near Why last Monday. We stayed for five days and drove the Ajo Mountain Drive in the Organ Pipe Cactus Monument Park (see pictures).

Yesterday we continued on and had our very first checkpoint by the Customs Border Services. They asked for our pass ports and when Raymond told them that they were in the trailer, they said we looked okay and sent us on our way. Reminded us of the many times last year we were stopped at military checkpoints in Mexico. We parked for the night at a Shell RV campground at Gila Bend. From here we took a day trip to the Buckeye Vet Clinic to get some food we had previously ordered for Molly. Molly wasn't very good before we left our summer home for our winter home in the States and her vet in Olds suggested putting her on Hills KD food as her kidneys were starting to fail. We almost didn't go south as we feared the worst for Molly. But since she has been on KD food her eyes have gotten clear and she seems like her old self. Most veterinary places in the States said we had to have a prescription for her KD food but we finally found a vet in Buckeye that just gave us the food. We hope she continues to do well.

Today we will travel onto Painted Rock BLM campground and plan to be there for about 5 days or so.